Passive Solar Design Services

Passive Solar Heating Systems are designed to provide space heat by capturing sunlight through solar-orientated windows. The sun’s energy is converted to heat, which warms the interior of the buildings. Using an integrated design approach we look at the building as a whole, to ensure the all of the features work optimally together to provide heat when you need it, cool indoor temperatures when it is hot outside, and sufficient daylight and fresh air for people to remain healthy and productive.

Integrated design approach requires an understanding of the relationships between building components. For example, the ratio of south facing solar glazing to heat-absorbing thermal mass in a home. Integrated design also requires an understanding of the ways in which design elements and various building materials contribute to and detract from various goals.

The overall effects of a passive design are a consistently pleasant indoor environment and a home with minimal dependence on supplemental energy, furnaces, air conditioners and fans. By looking at the building as a whole we can ensure you greater comfort, reduced electricity consumption and increased re-sale value.

Omineca can assist with any of the following:

Choosing the Site

Orientation of Building

Window Placements

Overhang design and shading strategies

Thermal Mass Design and placement

Insulation Details

Building Envelope details

Floor plans Layout

Backup Heating requirements

Construction Management

Some people may recall energy efficient houses built 50 years ago and remember them as boring boxes with tiny windows and no charm. Passive solar homes can be constructed with standard building materials. Passive solar houses can be timber framed, a modular building or one built with conventional framing lumber. A Passive solar house has to pay attention to air infiltration, BTU use and total energy consumption. A home that functions like a true passive solar home will use about 10% of the energy used by a home built to the current building code.